Metal sleeper



Jan. 6, 1931. a. YSEBOODT METAL SLEEPER Filed Feb. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 6, 1931. G. YSEBOODT V 1,788,040

METAL SLEEPER Filed Feb. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l a 9 1 glla. ,6 6

I F 1\ $3 1 L\ M 2 /V /f// 1 i 5"? d3 Jan,6, 1931. G. YSEBOODT 1,733,040

METAL SLEEPER Filed Feb. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 OFFICE ensravn YsisBoon'r, or scrrannnnnir-nnnssnns, BELGIUM Maren SLEEPER.

Application filed February 13,1936, Serial No. @8307, and in. Germany February 6, 192 8.

- Practice has shown that holes pierced in the top plate of metal sleepers greatly de crease the resistance of their portion located under the rail. These holes cut the upper 5 fibres of the metal, that is just those which are subjected to the greatest bending stresses. Moreover, these holes are not circular and they have to be very large to allow the head of the bolts to pass therethrough, as well 19 as the clamps or clips of a rail and members 39 All known metal sleepers without holes require the use of tie-plates or chairs for the,

rail, the ones being electrically welded, the others fixed to ribs projecting laterally from the sleepers. These tie-plates greatly in- 535 crease the cost of the sleepers. The electric welding of the tie-plates to the sleepers still further increases the expenses. The ribs projecting from the lateral walls of the sleepers cannot be obtained by the usual rolling processes. The tie-plates, which are clasped to such sleepers, have to be greater and therefore heavier than ordinary tie-plates. Moreover, their complicated shape prevents them from being rolled in their final form. They have to be machined or worked with a press or be made of cast steel. 'For these various reasons their cost is very high. With such tie-plates, as well as with electrically welded tie-plates, the devices for adjusting the gauge are complicated. r

The keys or cotters used forfixing the tieplates to the lateral ribs do not warrant the accurate gauge of the track and give rise to supplementary upkeep expenses.

Devices according to the present invention have for their object to overcome these defects.

The invention comprises a metal sleeper having the following characteristic features: 59 V 1. The rail or tie-plate for the rail, when there is one, is attached to the sleeper by means of bolts, the heads or nuts of which are anchored in hollows or recesses, located at the level ofthe axis of inertia of the sleeper or in the neighbourhoodthereof and formed in surfaces of increased thickness of the sleepor, which may be either vertical or slightly inclined thereto and do not comprise any horizontal ribs or projections. These recesses may have a closed bottom and be completely filled with a portion of the bolt. These re cesses with closed bottom have a cylindrical shape or any other shape which canbe easily made by milling, moulding or forcing backof themetalin a hot condition. Owing to their location and to their shape, the recesses only bring about a very slight reduction in the strengthof the'sleeper. When the recesses have an openbottoin, the ingress of water is very slight by reason of their location. All penetration of water is eliminated when the recesses have closed bottoms. The vertical or slightly inclined surfaces, in which the recesses areformed, consist either of the lateral surfaces of a longitudinal substantially rectangular groove, formed in the. upper plate of the sleeper by the ordinary rolling operation, or of the upper portion of the lateral walls of the sleeper.

2. When the bolt is anchored in its recess. keying means prevent rotation and lateral displacement of .each' bolt. These keying means may be common to both bolts arranged on the right and left hand sides of the rail and render the bolts integral with each other to counteract the thrust of the rail, even when no tie-plate is used. The shifting of the keying means or the altering of their dimensions allows of adjusting the gauge.

3. The deviceis applicable with or without tieor bearing-plate. The possible elimination-of this tie-plate allows of making economic metal sleepers without any hole or notch in the table thereof, nor any hole completely pierced through any other portion thereof, but comprising only easily machined recesses with closed bottom, in the neighbourhood of the axis of inertia of the sleeper.

By way of non'restrictiveexample, various m diments of the invention will be given 1' lit) said recesses being located at the level of the axis of inertia of the sleeper or inthe neighbourhood thereof. These hollows do not extend right through the thicknessof the metal. The upper and lower faces of the recesses 3 are plane or slightlytapered. Their vertical face is cylindrical and concentric to the axis of the bolt 4. The recesses 3 may thus be easily obtained by milling, moulding or torcing back of the metal in a hot condition.

The head of the bolts has two parallel faces 7, spaced at. a distance which is slightly shorter than the distance between the walls of the groove 2. The other faces of the head have the same shape as the bellows 3. In order to place the bolt in position, it firstly inserted in the groove 2, the walls 7 being parallel to the walls of the groove 2, and then rotated through an angle oi 90 about its axis, whereby its head fills the'cavities 3. A keying or fixing element or cover 6 is then inserted on the stem of the bolt, said cover en a in inside the roove 2 and contacting. on k b O n h H the one hand, the lateral walls 510i the latter and. on the other hand, the faces 'Zof the head of the bolt OWlIl to a notch out in the lower part ot'thecoverfi. This memberprevents the rotation of the head of the bolt and,

consequently, any displacement of same in a direction atright angles to that of the rail. The lateral thrusts of. the bottom 90f the rail are brought over to the heads of the bolts through the medium of the covers'fi.

The rail is rendered rigid in the vertical 'direction by means of clamps or clips 8. By placing on the left hand side and right hand side of the rail two covers 6 and two clamps 8, the widths of which at right angles to the rail are ditierent, and not placing the bolts in the middle of the covers 6 and clamps 8, it is possible, by turning and replacement of the covers and clamps (members which are permanently on the track) to provide six gauges.

Fig. 4 shows on a larger scale the position taken by the head of the bolt 4 enclosed in the lower portion of the cover 6, when the head of the bolt has the shape indicated on Figs. 1. 2 and 3. This figure also shows that it would be necessary to take oil twice the width of metal 12 to disengage the bolt from its housing 8, when the cover 6 has not been removed.

the head of the bolt, which are symmetrical to an axis parallel to the rail.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the head or" the bolt is oblique with regards to the rail. A portion of the surface 8 is concentric to the axis of the bolt, whereas the remaining portion thereof is plane. This bolt may be disengaged from the cavities 8 by rotating it in the direction of the arrows 13, after the cover 6 has been removed.

In the form illustrated on Fig. 8, the cylindrical surface 3 has its centre at 31 and is easy to mill. The bolt can be disengaged by rotating it in the direction of the arrows 13.

- The fact that the faces 17 of the cover 6 are oblique in relation to the rail, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, does not prevent the turning of the covers for providing the gauge of the track. Fig. 9 indicates a bolt, the head oi which is not symmetrical with regards to an axis parallel'to the rail, although the faces '2 or" the cover 8 are parallel to the rail.

An embodiment not illustrated is that in which the .tix'ng member orcover 6, placed on both sides of the rail, is traversed by two or more bolts fixed in the manner indicated.

in the embodiment illustrated on Figs. 10 and 11, the two bolts, whlch are placed on groove 2, for the purpose of placing the bolts or cnanging a bolt without having to move the sleeper on the rail. The grooves allow the stem of the bolts to pass therethrough. This arrangement causes the two bolts simultaneously to oppose resistance to the lateral thrusts or" the rail. It also reduces the vibrations of the member 32 which renders the bolts rigid, the ends of this inemberbeing maintained by the clamps 8; The portions i6 oi": the member 32, which is located above the top plate of the sleeper, may be wider than the groove 2, as shown on the right hand side of Figs. 10 and 11. i Theclamps 8 prevent the member 16-32 fromrising.

In order to reduce the'oscillatory movements of the covers 6, when these act separately, they may be provided at their lower end with flanges 34:, as indicated on the right hand side of Fig. 12.

When the cover 6 is' raised until the base 34 comes in contact with the bottom 9 of the rail, the headoi the bolt is free to rotate and to be disengaged from the bores 3. The belt and the cover can then slide towards the right and be withdrawn from the groove 2. 12 also shows an embodiment in which the covers are rendered steady by supplementary nuts engaged on the stem of the bolt 4. The left hand nut 20 is rendered rigid by its ail , of providing six gaugesfor the track, as in.

lateral faces contacting against the inner pro jections 21 of the clamp 8. The right hand nut 20 is formed integral with a polygonal base 23 and is thus rendered rigid by the inner walls of the clamp 8.

In order to reduce. as much as possible the play to be provided between the cover 6, the groove 2, the. heady of the bolt andthe rail, the surfaces 7 of the bolt and the lateral walls 5 of the groove 2 may be given a slight incli nation, as also the corresponding surfaces of the cover.

Figs. 13 and 1 1 illustrate an embodiment in which the functions of the cover 6 and the clamp '8 are fulfilled by a single member 8. The lower part 19 of the shank of the bolt may be circular or square and of increased thickness. When the elements 8 (Fig. 14) are given parts of differing widths, theturning and replacement'of said elements 8 allow the case of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The gutter 36 facilitates the flowing away of water underneath the bolts and the fixing elements.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate an embodiment of a sleeper comprising a chair or tie-plate 37. The latter is rendered rigid by means of simple notches 38 adapted to embrace the covers 6 on three sides thereof, as shown by the left hand side of Fig. 15. The covers may also be entirely enclosed in holes 39 of the tie-plate, as shown on the right hand side of said figure. This arrangement requires a tieplate of'larger size,but it has the advantage of causing the two bolts simultaneously to oppose resistance to the lateral thrusts of the rail. The material, resulting from the notches 38 or holes 39, maybe bent downwards to form flanges 40 extending at right angles into the groove 2, to withstand the displacement of the tie-plate in the direction of the rail.

WVhen the tie-plate is of cast or wrought metal and has at its lower part a ribengaged in a groove 2, its width may be made not to exceed that of the bottom of the rail, when of course both bolts are made to act separately.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 17, the tie-plate 37 ofcast-or wrought metal has a portion of increased thickness which engages into the groove 2. The seats for the covers 6, as well as the latter, have inclined surfaces 46, in such a way that the tightening ofthe nuts 20 renders the tie-plate rigid in the vertical direction, as well as-in the horizontal direction. 7

The polygonal base 23 of the nut 20, which contacts against one of the inner faces of the clamp 8, prevents the loosening of the nut 20 during use. The clamps 8 are rendered rigid, onthe one hand, by the ribs 41 of the tie-plate and, on the other hand, by the covers 6.

Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate an embodiment in Whichthe sleeper, the outer Walls of which are vertical, is fitted at itsupper portion with a tie-plate 37 comprising two lower ribs 43. The recesses 3 are hollowed out in the vertical portionfofi the lateral walls of the sleeper. On the left hand side of the figure, the head of the bolt has a symmetrical shape with regards to the axis parallel tothe rail. The shank of the bolt is round or square and the cover 6 surrounds the shank on three sides thereof. On the right hand sideof the figure, the bolt has a nonsymmetrical head. It is placed in position by rotation thereof and rendered rigid by the wedge 6. The wedge memberso have at theirlower part a flange 44 extending at right angles to prevent them from falling.

An embodiment not illustrated is one in whicha portion of a metal sleeper or of its fastening device hereabove describediis used as supporting and attaching means for the rail with a concrete,;wooden or other sleeper.

Another embodimentnot illustrated is one in which the longitudinal groove of the sleeper is filled with a metal, wooden or other block, or with bitumen,' tar or another substance, either to soften the rolling or to reduce the Wear, or to provide for the inclinationof the rail, or to lessen the rusting of. the sleeperand its fastening means. i g

It is obvious that, instead of devices in which recesses with closed bottoms as hereabove described, devices with holes extending through the thickness of the material and tightening of the boltrbeing effected in this case by actingon its head.

Iclaim: 1. In metal sleepers for. railways fixing meansv forthe latter to the rail support in cluding: recesses formed in parts of thesleeper walls of increased thickness and having plane, continuous, substantially vertical faces, said recessesbeing located substantially atthe level of the axis of inertia of the sleeper, nutted bolts, one-of the projecting parts of each ofwhich is housed in said recesses and locking means abutting, on the one hand, against said projecting parts, and, on the otherhand, against the sleeper and preventing rotation.

and lateral displacement of the bolts.

7 2. In metal sleepers for railways fixing means for the latter to the rail support including: a longitudinal groove in the top plate'of the sleeper of substantially rectangular cross section and having plane, continucu -substantially vertical lateral faces, re cesses formed in the lateral walls "of said groove and located substantially at thelevel of the axisof inertia of the sleeper, nutted bolts, one of the projecting parts of each of which is housed in said recesses and lockingnieans abutting, on the one hand, against said projecting parts, and, on the other hand, against the sleeper andp'reventing rotation and lateral displacement of the bolts.

3. In metal'sleepersi for railways fixing means for the latter to the rail support including: substantially cylindrical recesses with closed bottoms formed in parts of the sleeper walls of increased thickness and having plane, continuous, substantially 'vertical faces, said recesses being located substantially at the level-of the axis of inertia of the sleeper, nutted bolts, one of the projecting parts of each of which ishoused in said recesses and locking means abutting, ontheone hand, against said projecting parts, and, on the other'ha'nd, against the sleeper and preventing rotation and lateral displacement of thebolts. I

4. In metal sleepers for railways fixing means for the la'tter to the rail support including: alongitudinal groove in the top plate of the sleeper of substantially rectangular cross section and having plane, continuous, substantially vertical lateral faces, recesses formed in the lateral wa lls of said groove and located substantially at the level of the axis of inertia of the sleeper, a nutted bolt on each side of the rail, one of the proing plane, continuous, substantially vertical faces, said recesses being located substantially at the level of the axis of inertia of the sleeper, nutted bolts, one of the projecting parts of each of which is housed in said re- ,for each bolt, one above said clamp, the other below and tightly screwed against the locking means, the outer surface s'of the second-mentioned nut and the inner surfaces of the corresponding clamp co-operating" to prevent unlocking of said second-mentioned nut. v

In testimony whereof I signed hereunto my name. a

' GUSTAVE 'YSEBOODT.

jecting parts of both of which is housed in said recesses, locking means for both bolts abutting, on the .one hand, against said projecting parts and, on the other hand, against the sleeper, and an element seated in the groove, interconnecting the locking means for both bolts and rendering said bolts integral with each other to resist the-thrust of the rail. I

5. In metal sleepers for railways fixing means for the latter to the rail support ineluding: recesses formed in parts of the'sleeperwalls of increased thickness and having plane, continuous, substantially vertical faces, said recesses being located substantially at the'level of the axis of inertia of the sleeper, nutted bolts, one of the projecting parts of each of which is housed inisaid recesses, locking means abutting, on the one hand, against said projecting partsand, on the other hand, against theisleeper and preventing rotation and lateral displacement of the bolts, and a tie-plate surrounding on more than two sides said locking means for the bolts.

6. In metal sleepers for railways fixing. means for the latter to'the ,rail support ineluding recesses formed ,in parts of the I sleeper Walls of increaseclthiclmess and hav- 

